Myojoji Temple Bell Tower

Myojoji Temple Bell Tower: A 1625 Masterpiece on the Noto Peninsula

On a quiet hillside in Takitani-machi, Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, stands one of the most refined bell towers of the early Edo period: the Shoro (Bell Tower) of Myojoji Temple. Built in 1625 by the Maeda lords of Kaga, this two-storied structure has greeted worshippers for four centuries with the resonant strike of its bronze bell. Designated a nationally recognized Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1950, the Myojoji Bell Tower is one of ten buildings at this head temple of the Nichiren school in Hokuriku to bear that honor, and it offers a rare chance to experience the craftsmanship, religious devotion, and regional power of seventeenth-century Japan in a single, elegant form.

Historical Background

Myojoji Temple traces its origins to 1294, when the monk Nichizo, a disciple's disciple of Nichiren himself, landed in Noto on his journey from Sado to Kyoto. According to temple tradition, he converted a Shingon priest named Manzo during the voyage, gave him the new Buddhist name Nichijo, and together with him founded this mountain temple with the support of a local lord. From these humble beginnings, Myojoji grew into the principal Nichiren temple of the Hokuriku region.

The temple's present appearance, however, owes its grandeur to the devotion of a seventeenth-century noblewoman. Jufukuin, the mother of Maeda Toshitsune—the third lord of the powerful Kaga domain—was a devout follower of the Nichiren school, and her son undertook a sweeping reconstruction of Myojoji to honor her memory. Construction stretched over roughly seventy years, continuing into the reign of the fifth lord, Tsunanori, and produced the magnificent complex we see today. The bell tower, completed in 1625 together with the Nio Gate, represents the heart of that early-Edo construction campaign.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The Myojoji Bell Tower was added to Japan's national register of Important Cultural Properties on August 29, 1950. Several qualities set it apart and earned this recognition.

First, its date of construction is firmly documented. Temple records preserved on site—including the "Myojoji Shodo Ezu Hikae," a historical illustrated register of temple buildings—explicitly state that the bell tower was raised in the second year of the Kan'ei era (1625), at the same time as the neighboring Nio Gate. This paired construction by the same craftsmen, under the patronage of the Maeda clan, gives the two structures a rare architectural coherence.

Second, the design quality is exceptional. The tower combines technical refinement—three-tiered wooden brackets, a skirted lower wall known as hakama-goshi, octagonal lower columns resting on natural stone, and a kokera-buki roof of thin wooden shingles—with subtle aesthetic variation on every face. Each elevation uses a different lattice pattern, lending the building a quiet dynamism that rewards slow observation.

Finally, the bell tower survives in remarkably original condition. Together with the Nio Gate, Main Hall, Five-Storied Pagoda, Founder's Hall, Sutra Hall, Sanko-do, Sanjubanjin-do, Shoin, and Kuri, it is part of one of the most complete early-Edo Nichiren temple ensembles in Japan, giving visitors an unusually unified glimpse of seventeenth-century sacred architecture.

Architectural Highlights to Watch For

Approaching the bell tower, the first thing most visitors notice is the elegant silhouette of its flared lower wall. This is the hakama-goshi, a skirt-like panel of overlapping wooden boards known as sasarago-shitami. Its outward spread mirrors the eaves of the upper story above, creating a proportional harmony that architectural historians consider a hallmark of mature early-Edo design.

Visitor Information and Access

The bell tower stands within the main precinct of Myojoji Temple and is included with the general admission ticket. A visit takes most travelers about an hour to an hour and a half, allowing time to walk the full temple path from the Nio Gate through the Main Hall, the Five-Storied Pagoda, and the garden of the Shoin.

From JR Hakui Station, take the Hokutetsu Noto bus bound for Togi or Takahama, get off at the Myojoji-guchi stop, and walk roughly ten minutes to the temple grounds. Drivers will find a spacious free parking area at the entrance.

What to See Nearby

The Noto Peninsula is unusually rich in sights, and Myojoji pairs naturally with several memorable destinations. Keta Taisha, the grand shrine revered as the first-ranked shrine of Noto Province and beloved today as a place to pray for love and good relationships, lies only a short drive away. The nearby Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is famous as the only beach in Japan where you can drive your car directly along the packed sand at the water's edge—a breathtaking experience at sunset. Cosmo Isle Hakui, a space science museum displaying real spacecraft and Apollo-era artifacts, is a surprising and delightful detour for families. Other cultural properties worth pairing with a Myojoji visit include Yokoji Temple, known for its seasonal flowers, and the serene Zen training hall of Buzaiin.